Today, Mascagni's reputation rests entirely with one short opera called Cavalleria Rusticana. The opera is usually considered to be the first verismo opera and was written by Mascagni for a competition organized by the first verismo opera and was written by Mascagni for a competition organized by the music publishers Sonzogno. It won first prize and was soon popular on both sides of the Atlantic. The plot is based on a story by Verga, and as a play it was popularized by the great actress Eleanora Duse. Musically it contains moments of great passion, with some quieter moments of great beauty.
Cavalleria Rusticana tells of love brtrayed and a jealousy that leads to a duel and death in a Sicillian village. Its famous, intensely felt intermezzo is played between this one-act opera's two scenes.
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